Albania has officially kicked off the “Cashless Albania 2030” initiative, aiming to reduce the country’s reliance on cash and accelerate the transition to digital payments. At a meeting in Tirana, Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj announced the establishment of a Digital Payments Council and outlined reforms designed to modernize the payment infrastructure and align with EU standards.
Ibrahimaj highlighted that only 46% of Albanians currently hold a bank account, and just 35% make digital payments.
To change this, the government plans to reduce the cash-payment ceiling to 500,000 Lek, require all merchants to install electronic payment devices by the end of 2026, and ensure that all public institutions accept electronic payments. The goal is for 60% of all payments in Albania to be digital by 2030, supported by 12 new measures and upcoming legal adjustments.
The program also foresees eliminating cash transfers in public institutions, promoting digital payments for state employees, and introducing limits on cash kept in the registers of businesses issuing electronic invoices.
